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On Monday, February 22, around noon, a RECE introduced her helper and said, “okay guys, now, I have a helper”. The child was turned around as the RECE said, “Today, I want you to listen to the rhymes and think.. ‘When I grow up, what will I be?’ Come play a guessing game with me.” As the RECE flips the page over of the book, she says “alright, so listen… Sound the siren, loud and clear. I've got my hose, my hat, my gear. I’ll be ready, have no doubt. I’ve come to put the fire out. What will I be?” The RECE turns the child around and the child puts the whistle in her mouth. She puts the whistle in her mouth, the RECE laughs and says, “not the whistle. What are you?”.

Child: “I am a firefighter!”.

RECE: “A firefighter, like Mrs. Cornfields’ husband, he’s a firefighter!”.

Child: “Yes, and we do many jobs to keep you safe!”

RECE: You do, I’m so glad! Do you know some of the jobs you do to keep people safe?

Child: Yes, for this axe of course, if this house was on fire, this axe is very sharp and it could break through that glass and you will get in if the door was locked and there was a fire there.

RECE: Oh, and you would rescue somebody?

Child: Yeah, we have no binoculars but I didn’t bring them. We have pockets.

The child points at her whistle and says, “This is to cross the streets with people.” The child says, “We have hoses on big trucks but right now they just dropped me here to show you guys what I’m for. And Uhm, we are for many jobs; cutting down trees unless they're on fire.”. The RECE says, “okay, so they do a lot of different things. Alright, so let’s read this book. We are firefighters. We work at the fire station. The bell is ringing. There is a fire somewhere. Hurry, it’s time to go! I wear a black coat with yellow stripes. I put on a helmet. I open the door to the fire engine, and I climb into the front seat. The fire engine races down the road, and the red light flashes. The siren warns cars to get out of the way. This building is on fire, see there is a lot of smoke. I climb the ladder and I carry a hose. I used the hose to spray the water on the fire. Sometimes they spray water and sometimes they spray foam. Now, the fire is out and we worked very hard. We are tired but were happy that we were able to help people. We like helping people, and we like being firefighters.” The RECE put the book away and said, “we’ll talk the next time you see a firefighter and some of us really love firefighters in our class. You make sure you say thank you, bye!”

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It appears that the child is developing cognitive skills. We see this in the anecdotal observation on February 22, 2021, when the child says “We have hoses on big trucks but right now they just dropped me here to show you guys what I’m for. And Uhm, we are for many jobs; cutting down trees unless they're on fire.”. According to Ages and Stages, children aged 6 years are able to carry on conversations with other children and adults. According to Piaget, children are in their concrete operational stage which is usually 7-11 years old, is no longer fooled by appearances, and can reverse thinking to be more adult-like.

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For the common experience, I set up a bookshelf with a variety of books about firefighters.

I added some bean bag chairs on the rug, and by the bookshelf to give them a good space to read.

The bookshelf is placed right in front of a window, allowing natural light to come in.

There are also some lighting fixtures added to the ceiling for extra light in the room.

The whiteboard is set up to match the inquiry the children are focusing on, which is firefighters.

There is a table by the rug with some equipment that firefighters use, and I was sure to place more than one of each.

The outdoor environment is a big space with a lot of greenery.

There is a firetruck outside for the children to explore during outdoor play.

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Children are curious, as to how, such a big fire could be put out by a firefighter, while they are wearing heavy equipment.
The driving question, in this case, would be, how are firefighters able to put out big fires with their heavy clothes and equipment?

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Firefighter Web

How do firefighters put out a big fire with their heavy equipment?

Who are firefighters?

Are firefighters strong?

What do firefighters do?

How do they lift their equipment to take out fires?

Why is a firetruck so long?

Do they have water inside of the firetruck?

Where do firefighters live?

What do firefighters wear?

What should we do if there is a fire?

Where are our fire exits?

Do firefighters live at the fire station?

What do firefighters use to take out a fire?

How many firefighters can sit in a fire truck?

Can anyone be a firefighter?

Do firefighters use sirens like police officers and ambulances?

How do firefighters take out a fire?

Learning Opportunities

Set up a dramatic play area with equipment

1.2 play-based learning in a culture of inquiry

4.3 participate in dramatic play that contains a plot and imaginative component

Visiting a fire station

Inviting a firefighter to the classroom

Firetruck coming to the school for the children to observe

1.9 children are able to interact with adults during activities positively

4.5 naming things they observe

Mimicking sounds of sirens

4.5 naming things they observe

Mock fire drills

4.3 participate in dramatic play that contains a plot and imaginative component

Building an escape plan with the children in case of a fire

1.8 exchanging ideas and taking others point of view

Building a fire engine in a dramatic play area

1.2 play-based learning in a culture of inquiry

Washing a fire truck

3.2 building partnerships and learning to work together

Obstacle course with a fire hose

4.3 belonging and contributing

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Name of Learning Opportunity #1

Dramatic Play Area with equipment

What question is this Learning Opportunity answering from the KWHL?

What do firefighters wear?

What do firefighters do?

Connection to ELECT/FDK?

1.2 play-based learning in a culture of inquiry

1.9 children are able to interact with adults during activities positively

4.3 participate in dramatic play that contains a plot and imaginative component

How did you provoke during the learning opportunity by using the Environment as the Third Teacher and Emergent Principles?

Provided the children with a space with lots of light

Designed the classroom with lots of fire equipment

Used the space inside the classroom to make it all about firefighters with pictures and posters

Including this equipment in the classroom will help the children engage well with the learning opportunities as the days go by

Watch a video of a virtual tour of the fire station and a day in their life to promote the dramatic play area and help them reenact the scenarios

Summary of Learning Opportunity - What was the process of the learning opportunity (Beginning Middle and End)? You should be considering the inquiry process and allowing the children to investigate and discover answers.

To start, children asked about what firefighters do and what firefighters wear. To expand their knowledge on this question, I created some posters to put around the classroom. Also, I added some equipment safe for children to wear and use at the dramatic play area.

Then, children were able to investigate using the equipment and knowledge from the posters around the room and put it into perspective for themselves. They were able to recreate some of the appearances of the firefighters and connect with their peers and adults to show what they are learning.

To end off, I realized they could use someone on one talk with a firefighter, or a visit to the fire station so I decided to extend their learning opportunity to a trip to the fire station.

What was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate their learning (consider the 100 languages)?

The children were able to express themselves in more than one way with the equipment

They were able to dress up with the materials provided, and used the equipment in their own unique ways

They were able to investigate and use their own terms of words to describe what they are doing and share their thinking with everyone around them.

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Name of Learning Opportunity #2

Meeting a firefighter

What question is this Learning Opportunity answering from the KWHL?

Who are firefighters?

How many firefighters can sit in a firetruck?

Connection to ELECT/FDK?

1.9 children are able to interact with adults during activities positively

4.5 naming things they observe

How did you provoke during the learning opportunity by using the Environment as the Third Teacher and Emergent Principles?

Firetruck parked outside for the children to observe

Provided the children with one on one interactions with a firefighter

Summary of Learning Opportunity - What was the process of the learning opportunity (Beginning Middle and End)? You should be considering the inquiry process and allowing the children to investigate and discover answers.

To start, children asked who firefighters are and how many firefighters can sit in a firetruck. To acknowledge their question, I invited firefighters into the classroom with their big red fire truck.

Then, children were able to see a firefighter and fire truck in real life. They had the opportunity to engage with the firefighter and learn more about the fire truck. Children took turns sitting in the fire truck to get a better insight of how it looks from inside.

To end off the learning opportunity, I realized they asked a lot of questions about fire drills and what we should do if there is a fire so I decided to extend their learning with a fire escape plan.

What was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate their learning (consider the 100 languages)?

Children were able to investigate and observe a fire truck

Children were able to see inside and outside of the fire truck

Children had access to look at all the equipment that is being carried inside the fire truck

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Name of Learning Opportunity #3

Building a fire escape plan

What question is this Learning Opportunity answering from the KWHL?

What should we do if there is a fire?

How can we save ourselves from a fire?

What do they use to take out a fire?

Connection to ELECT/FDK?

1.8 exchanging ideas and taking others point of view

4.3 participate in dramatic play that contains a plot and imaginative component

How did you provoke during the learning opportunity by using the Environment as the Third Teacher and Emergent Principles?

Provided them with a kit of a fire escape plan

Sent home a fire escape plan kit for them to create for home with their parents

Summary of Learning Opportunity - What was the process of the learning opportunity (Beginning Middle and End)? You should be considering the inquiry process and allowing the children to investigate and discover answers.

To start, the children asked what they should do if there is a fire and to acknowledge their question I decided to create an escape plan.

Then, I placed posters around the classroom to help the children visualize where the fire exits are. We sat down together and started to point out the fire exits on the map that we created of the room. We analyzed which exit is closer to the door and then created another map of the outdoor environment. Which then we decided where we would stand outside, and how far.

To end off the learning opportunity, children asked more about sirens and how they can keep busy during a fire drill so I decided to extend their learning by washing a fire truck and talking more about the sirens.

What was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate their learning (consider the 100 languages)?

Children learned what to do if there is a fire

Children are able to save themselves from a fire

Children designed an escape plan to understand better the situation

Children are aware of all the emergency fire exits

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Name of Learning Opportunity #4

Sirens & washing a fire truck to honour the community helpers

What question is this Learning Opportunity answering from the KWHL?

Do firefighters use sirens like police officers and ambulances?

How do you wash a fire truck?

Are firefighters rescuers?

Can anyone be a firefighter?

Connection to ELECT/FDK?

1.3 cooperating

3.2 building partnerships and learning to work together

4.5 naming things they observe

5.2 gross motor skills

How did you provoke during the learning opportunity by using the Environment as the Third Teacher and Emergent Principles?

Provided more information about the types of sirens with video representations

Arranged another meet and greet with the firefighters to honour them and show them what we have done in the classroom so far

Summary of Learning Opportunity - What was the process of the learning opportunity (Beginning Middle and End)? You should be considering the inquiry process and allowing the children to investigate and discover answers.

To start, the children asked if firefighters are rescuers and the type of sirens they use. To acknowledge their learning, I decided to expand and bring a fire truck in to honour our community helpers.

Then, we welcomed the firefighters with a warm welcome and offered to wash their trucks. While washing the trucks, we asked about the sirens and how they help our communities.

To end off, I wanted to let them experience a more real-life example of how their daily lives are so I decided to create an obstacle course.

What was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate their learning (consider the 100 languages)?

Children were able to talk to a firefighter

Children understood that anyone can be a firefighter for their community with the right approach

Children were able to hear real-life stories from the firefighter about his daily job

Children honoured the community helpers by washing the fire truck to show appreciation

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Name of Learning Opportunity #5

Obstacle Course

What question is this Learning Opportunity answering from the KWHL?

How do firefighters lift such heavy equipment?

Are firefighters strong?

What do firefighters do when there is a fire?

How do firefighters run with such heavy equipment?

Do firefighters go through training?

Connection to ELECT/FDK?

1.6 cooperating

1.9 children are able to interact with adults during activities positively

4.3 belonging and contributing

4.5 naming things they observe

4.7 reflecting and reaching conclusions

How did you provoke during the learning opportunity by using the Environment as the Third Teacher and Emergent Principles?

To end of the week with the firefighter inquiry, I wanted to create an obstacle course to further allow for the children to fully experience the day in the life of a firefighter

I was able to provide them with an outdoor environment with equipment and lots of room to move around and make noise

The children were able to have a visual representation and the ability to analyze how hard firefighters work

Summary of Learning Opportunity - What was the process of the learning opportunity (Beginning Middle and End)? You should be considering the inquiry process and allowing the children to investigate and discover answers.

Set up an obstacle course outside for the children with fire equipment

Mock a training session that a firefighter completes

See how fast the children can put on all their firefighter equipment, head to toe

What was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate their learning (consider the 100 languages)?

Children learn how heavy the fire equipment is

Children are able to run an obstacle course of a regular day at the fire station

Children go through training and realize how draining it can be

Children realize you can do anything you put your mind to, like being strong

Children can analyze the situation a firefighter may be in when there is a fire

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To conclude the project with the children, I decided that we should get together and make a vocabulary word cloud with all the words we learned from the project. This word cloud we created is a great aspect to showcase what has been learned throughout the project inquiry based on Firefighters.

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To conclude what we know now, I decided to sit with the children and make a web, based on what we learned over the course of the project inquiry on firefighters.

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After completing the inquiry with the children, I asked how they would like to share their projects with their families and other children. To conclude the project, the children want to run an obstacle course outdoors with inviting families, and other firefighters either through zoom, or in-person to join them. We also created a slide show video with all of the things we covered in the inquiry approach to honour the firefighters and share with families who are not able to reach out.